The Open Championship Venues
Page last updated: September 2025
The Open Championship 2025 at Royal Portrush
The 153rd Open returned to Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland on July 17-20, 2025
The British Open Golf Championship, often referred to simply as "The Open", is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. Founded in 1860, it is held annually in the United Kingdom on various renowned links courses.
playing at St AndrewsThe Open Rotation
The Open Championship operates on a rotation system among a select group of links courses, primarily in Scotland and England. The R&A typically announces venues 3-5 years in advance. Currently, there are 10 courses in the active rotation, each offering unique challenges and rich golfing heritage.
Between 1860 and 1870, The Open Championship was played exclusively at Prestwick Golf Club. After not being held in 1871, it was then played at a number of courses in rotation, initially with three courses in the rotation - Prestwick, St Andrews, and Musselburgh.
The tournament was also not held during the World Wars (1915-1919 and 1940-1945) and was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Complete Venue List (1860-2026)
In 2019, The Open was played in Northern Ireland for only the second time ever, at Royal Portrush Golf Club (it was previously hosted on this course in 1951).
| Year | Course | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | The Old Course at St Andrews | St Andrews, Scotland |
| 2026 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 2025 | Royal Portrush Golf Club | Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| 2024 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 2023 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 2022 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 2021 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 2020 | Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2019 | Royal Portrush Golf Club | Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| 2018 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 2017 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 2016 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 2015 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 2014 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 2013 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 2012 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 2011 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 2010 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 2009 | Ailsa Course at Turnberry | Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 2008 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 2007 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 2006 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 2005 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 2004 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 2003 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 2002 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 2001 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 2000 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1999 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 1998 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1997 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1996 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1995 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1994 | Turnberry | Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1993 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1992 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1991 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1990 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1989 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1988 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1987 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1986 | Turnberry | Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1985 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1984 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1983 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1982 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1981 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1980 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1979 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1978 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1977 | Turnberry | Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1976 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1975 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 1974 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1973 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1972 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1971 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1970 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1969 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1968 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 1967 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1966 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1965 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1964 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1963 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1962 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1961 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1960 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1959 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1958 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1957 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1956 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1955 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1954 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | Southport, Merseyside, England |
| 1953 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 1952 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1951 | Royal Portrush Golf Club | Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| 1950 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1949 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1948 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1947 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1946 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1940-1945: No Championships due to World War II | ||
| 1939 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1938 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1937 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 1936 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1935 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1934 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1933 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1932 | Prince's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1931 | Carnoustie Golf Links | Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland |
| 1930 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1929 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1928 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1927 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1926 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England |
| 1925 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1924 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1923 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1922 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1921 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1920 | Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club | Deal, Kent, England |
| 1915-1919: No Championships due to World War I | ||
| 1914 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1913 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1912 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1911 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1910 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1909 | Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club | Deal, Kent, England |
| 1908 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1907 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1906 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1905 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1904 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1903 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1902 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1901 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1900 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1899 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1898 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1897 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
| 1896 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1895 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1894 | Royal St George's Golf Club | Sandwich, Kent, England |
| 1893 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1892 | Muirfield | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1891 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1890 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1889 | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1888 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1887 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1886 | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1885 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1884 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1883 | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1882 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1881 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1880 | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1879 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1878 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1877 | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1876 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1875 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1874 | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland |
| 1873 | The Old Course | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| 1872 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| 1871 | No Championship held | |
| 1860-1870 | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
Current Rotation Venues
The R&A maintains a rotation of 10 courses for The Open Championship:
- St Andrews (Old Course) - Scotland: The "Home of Golf" - hosts every 5 years
- Royal Troon - Scotland: Longest course at 7,385 yards (2024 host)
- Royal Birkdale - England: 10-time host, known for fairness
- Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) - England: One of the oldest championship venues
- Royal St George's - England: Only current venue in Southeast England
- Royal Lytham & St Annes - England: Unique for starting with a par 3
- Carnoustie - Scotland: Known as the toughest Open venue
- Muirfield - Scotland: Considered the fairest test in the rotation
- Royal Portrush - Northern Ireland: Returned to rotation in 2019
- Turnberry (Ailsa Course) - Scotland: Spectacular coastal setting
Frequently Asked Questions
Which venue has hosted The Open the most?
The Old Course at St Andrews has hosted The Open Championship 30 times, more than any other venue. It traditionally hosts every 5 years, most recently in 2022.
Where will the 2026 Open Championship be played?
The 2026 Open Championship will be played at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside between 16 and 19 of July. This will be only the tenth time this venue has hosted The Open.
What makes a links course suitable for The Open?
Links courses feature coastal locations, sandy soil, deep bunkers, undulating fairways, and are exposed to wind. They provide the traditional test of golf that The Open Championship demands.
Has The Open ever been played outside the UK?
No, The Open Championship has always been played in the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and historically Wales). It remains the only major championship played exclusively on links courses.
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